Ruth Roesler

Ruth Roesler, 92, of Freeman passed away Friday, December 15 at the Freeman Regional Nursing Home.  Memorial services will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20th at the Salem Mennonite (South) Church of rural Freeman.  Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Walter Funeral Home in Freeman.  

Ruth (Rempfer) Roesler was born March 4, 1931 in rural Yankton County to William Rempfer and Katharina Olga (Schaeffer) Rempfer.  She attended Jamesville country school through the eighth grade and then worked full time on her parents’ farm.

She married Marvin Roesler on November 1, 1950 at the Salem Reformed Church in Menno and moved to the Turkey Ridge area to farm and raise a family together.  Ruth and Marvin had three daughters and one son: Sharon, Mary Lou (died at birth), James and Janet.

Ruth joined Salem Mennonite Church after marrying Marvin.  When she was not busy working on the farm, she was often working in service to others.  She often served at Swan Lake Christian Camp, Et Cetera Shoppe, Freeman Academy Auxiliary, Schmeckfest and MCC meat canning as well as various positions at church.  She kept a large garden, canning and freezing to provide homegrown vegetables year around.  Ruth enjoyed cooking and baking and became well known for her cinnamon rolls and doughnuts.  For fundraising auctions, she often donated one dozen per month for a year which would fetch a large donation.

After farming together for 50 years, Ruth and Marvin moved to Freeman in the summer of 2000.  Their home quickly became a second home for the Balzer grandsons.  She enjoyed all her grandchildren and liked to have them help with her baking.  She made sure to have cookies, bars and other treats ready any time the grandchildren might stop by after school.  Ruth continued actively volunteering for several years, until moving to the Salem Home and later to Oakview Terrace.  Ruth and Marvin were married for 68 years until he passed away in March of 2019.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, her brothers Calvin, Edgar and Oscar, her sister Pearl and her son-in-law Mickey Nelson.  She is survived by her children Sharon Nelson, James and Sheri Roesler, and Janet and Paul Balzer; her 5 grandchildren Kaitlynn (Bryan), Jesse, Joshua, Phillip and Seth; and many nieces and nephews.